Guenmai

And as far as being"30 and bursting with energy"...well, there are a lot of 20 and 30 somethings that can't do the travel schedules and rough destinations that I have done....so it's not ALL about age. Happy Travels!

althom1122

I meant no insult to anyone of any age or energy level with my previous post - sorry if it came across that way. (I am 48 myself!) I was just trying to say that it is a very individual thing and varies with each person as to whether they would want to do such a thing. My point, though, is that many of us don't have the opportunity to be zipping around the world frequently and if this is likely to be the only time to get to Asia or even if there's only some hazy future possibility, that the poster might want to consider going for it rather than never making it there. I have never been to Asia (can't wait to go), but for me opportunities to travel such distances don't come along all that often. I'm try to take one big trip a year (was lucky this year because I was in a master's degree program that included a trip to Africa and am vacationing in Europe with my sister). But one trip a year isn't much and given how many places there are to see in the world, I personally wouldn't forego the opportunity to see Bangkok. I agree that the ideal would be to cut a couple days from Australia and have more than just two days in Bangkok - but skip Bangkok altogether when I know the opportunity is out there? That would be soooo hard for me!
Anyway, apologies if my post offended anyone - not intended! (My enthusiasm overcomes me at times.)

JohnWM

Shari, you didn't mention in your original posting whether you would be flying in economy or business/first class. A flight to Australia in economy might be more fatiguing than in business or first class.

If you have an opportunity to break up your flight with a stopover in Asia, I would recommend that you accept the opportunity! I would suggest, though, that you consider Singapore, or Hong Kong, or Tokyo as the stopover rather than Bangkok. I recently found Bangkok the least appealing of the lot, ramshackle, and dilapidated; the other cities, by contrast, were marvelous: neat, clean, and very Asian in character without the third-world ambiance that Bangkok unfortunately exudes.

Whichever you choose, enjoy the trip!

BillT

JohnWM:
You will now reap the wrath of the Asia forum by disparaging BKK. This is after all the BKK board (and you thought it was the Asia forum!)

Guenmai

Bill...You are a hoot....I needed my morning chuckle and you just gave it to me! But,there is truth to your statement of this being the Bangkok board. We are obvious Bangkok lovers and I guess just see it through different eyes than some...Then again, whenever I read those travel magazine yearly ratings of places, Bangkok usually places number 1 in Asia and around number 4 out of the top ten cities in the world. So, there must be a whole lot of other folks out there who love the place,too. But to each his/her own. Although, for a two-day stopover, Singapore would be more manageable. Happy Travels!

Shari

Thanks so much for everyone's help! We are flying first class. The reason we were picking Bangkok and not Tokyo, etc. is because Thai Air is a partner with United, so it wouldn't cost us any additional money. We are going in October.

glorialf

If you're flying first class jet lag will be much less of a problem. One question -- what time would you land in Bangkok? If you land in the afternoon, I would suggest stsying two nights at the Oriental. Even if you never leave the hotel (and I suggest you do) you will have an absolutely wonderful time. However if your flight gets in late in the evening (like 11PM or later) I would say you might end up with worse jet lag if you make the stop than if you just keep going.

Zambezi

Having followed this thread with interest since I posted the first response, I cannot resist another comment. I agree with althom1122 a thousand percent that one should take every opportunity one has---never postpone. As for humidity and heat in Bangkok, that's what airconditioning is for. It's made Atlanta, New Orleans, and Houston, and a lot of other almost unbearly hot places (in the summer, that is) and it is Bangkok's saving grace. Even after I've been on planes for twenty-four hours, when I arrive in Bangkok, I'm revitalized and ready to go. ZZ

BillT

I live in Houston so I know hot and humid! You will need to move between the air conditioned venues in BKK and that can and does affect you! When we were there often we were worn out just getting from A to B.

Guenmai

United flights from L.A. to Bangkok arrive into Bnagkok late at night as do the Thai Air flights from L.A. to Bangkok. Happy Travels!